Opera Scotland

Madam Butterfly 1980Scottish Opera

On the face of it this was a routine revival to mark the opening of the enormous Playhouse as a large venue for popular live entertainment. However Roderick Brydon’s expert conducting of Puccini along with the company debut of John Treleaven ensured it was rather more than that. Even more important were the first performances with Scottish Opera by Lorna Haywood, an excellent singing actress, particularly in leading roles of Puccini and Janáček, and a favourite performer at the Coliseum. Her Butterfly was a notable success. It is worth observing also that Donald Maxwell made a highly positive impression in a principal role, as Sharpless, and was singing Monterone in Rigoletto that week as well.